Wright Sentenced

Published December 12th, 2007

A blood test showed Wright had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit when he hit Lt. Corey Dahlem last April. While the Dahlem family hoped for a longer sentence, Spencer Mann of the State Attorney's Office said the sentence demonstrates the price one pays when harm comes to a law enforcement or emergency officer.

"They wish the sentence had been more," Mann said. "However, they are satisfied with the judge's decision."

Wright entered a guilty plea to aggravated manslaughter of a law enforcement officer in October and faced a maximum sentence of 30 years.

"I hope it sends enough of a message to people in his age group and to anybody else who might be tempted to get behind the wheel drunk," State Attorney Bill Cervone said of the 10-year sentence.

With good behavior, Wright could get out after eight-and-a-half years; he is not required to serve any probation after being released.

As far as we're concerned, he faces a decade for what he did," Cervonne said.

Wright will spend the next couple of days at the Alachua County Jail. Then he will be taken to the classification center in Lake Butler, where officials will determine which state prison he will serve his term in.